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#HIGPA Andretti Autosport Qualifying Report

Will be making his sixth career second-place start at tomorrow’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

Made a strategy decision to cut qualifying short in order to save tires for tomorrow’s 90-lap race

“Very happy for the United Fiber & Data boys and everybody at Andretti Autosport – all the cars have been quick; having four cars starting in the top 10, that speaks volumes for the team. Second race in a row starting from the front so we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

On the decision to cut qualifying short –
“With the heat that we are going to face tomorrow and the tires going off the way they are, we figured either having one more run on that set, or a set with one less run on it was going to play into our hands tomorrow. We watched some other guys go out and we weren’t sure what to expect, a bit nervous on the timing stand there but we held our second place. And hopefully with one less heat cycle on the tires we’ll be in a better position tomorrow.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 28 DHL Honda

Will start tomorrow’s 90-lap race from the third position – his third consecutive top-three start

Has made it into the Firestone Fast Six in each race of the 2014 IndyCar season thus far

“Starting third is two shy of where we want to be but, it’s a good start. We can go to work from there and can definitely win this thing from third. It was a tight qualifying session today – we knew it was going to be. With the level of drivers and teams we have involved, it was going to be a fight to the very end. We tried it and came up short, but overall I think third is good for the No. 28 DHL Honda .”

Carlos Muñoz, No. 34 Cinsay Honda

Matches best qualifying effort of 2014 with P7

Won at Barber Motorsports Park in 2013 in Indy Lights

“Today went pretty well. It’s a shame that, in the end, we missed the Firestone Fast Six by such a small margin – it was really close. I’m happy; I think seventh place to start the race tomorrow is good. It’s a long race ahead – I think tire degradation is going to be the key, and we’ll see what happens. Hopefully at the next race we’ll be able to qualify in the Fast Six. My goal was to make it to the Fast Six… I had a good car to do it and we were all just really close. Anyways, I’m happy for my teammates who made it to the Firestone Fast Six.”

Marco Andretti, No. 25 Snapple Honda

Will roll off from the ninth grid position tomorrow

Was on target for a third-place qualifying with the No. 25 car before losing time in Turn 12

“That (qualifying position) is on me. The Snapple team gave me the car; I was on a lap good enough for P3 and almost crashed in Turn 12… I don’t know where it came from. I lost the back end and just saved it up to the line and we lost the time that we needed (for the Firestone Fast Six). But a credit to the team – they’re looking quick.“